Scindapsus plant named ‘Silver Baby’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Scindapsus plant named ‘Silver Baby’ particularly distinguished by unique silverish-blue leaf coloration with some slight greenish colored blotches on the upper surface of mature leaves, silvery and iridescent leaf sheen across the entire leaf surface, and semi-compact and trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Scindapsus pictus.

Variety denomination: ‘Silver Baby’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Scindapsusplant, botanically known as Scindapsus pictus, and hereinafter referredto by the variety name ‘Silver Baby’.

This new Scindapsus plant was discovered by the inventor as a naturallyoccurring whole plant mutation (sport) of an unnamed and unpatentedScindapsus pictus plant derived from a vegetative cutting and grown in agreenhouse in Suffolk County, N.Y. The discovery of the new plant wasmade by the inventor in February 2021 in a non-publicly accessible areaof a commercial greenhouse located in Suffolk County, N.Y.

The new cultivar was selected based on its distinctive shiny andsilverish-blue leaf coloration with silvery and iridescent leaf sheenacross the entire leaf surface. ‘Silver Baby’ was first reproducedasexually using meristem tip cuttings in Suffolk County, N.Y. in March2021. Asexual propagation by meristem tip cuttings of the new varietyhas shown that the unique features of the new variety are stable andreproduced true-to-type to date through six successive generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for.‘Silver Baby’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere inthe world more than one-year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Scindapsus variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, lightintensity, water status, fertilizer rate and type, without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new Scindapsus variety. The combination of thesecharacteristics distinguishes ‘Silver Baby’ as a new and distinctvariety of Scindapsus:

-   -   1. Unique shiny and silverish-blue leaf coloration with some        slight greenish colored blotches on the upper surface of mature        leaves;    -   2. Silvery and iridescent leaf sheen across the entire leaf        surface; and    -   3. Semi-compact and trailing growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Scindapsus cultivar is illustrated by the accompanying-coloredphotographs which show the overall appearance and distinctcharacteristics of the plant. The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs are of a 2-month-old plant grown in a 4-inch round containerunder moderate shade in a glass covered greenhouse in Suffolk County,N.Y. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the botanical description which accurately describes the colorsof the new variety.

FIG. 1 . shows a side view of the overall plant form and foliage of‘Silver Baby’.

FIG. 2 . shows a top view of the overall plant form and foliage of‘Silver Baby’.

FIG. 3 . shows a closeup of a mature leaf of ‘Silver Baby’.

FIG. 4 . shows a closeup of a typical vine of ‘Silver Baby’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, except where generalcolor terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown undermoderate shade in a glass covered greenhouse in Suffolk County, N.Y.Detailed descriptions were taken in May 2022 from a 2-month-old plantgrown in a 4-inch round container. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Araceae.        -   Botanical.—Scindapsus pictus.        -   Common.—Scindapsus.        -   Denomination.—‘Silver Baby’.-   General description:    -   -   Plant type.—Perennial tropical vine.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-compact and trailing.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—Approximately            7.62 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 12.7 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate, approximately 6.35 cm of stem growth            per month.        -   Branching characteristics.—One main stem, weak basal            branching.        -   Diameter of stems.—0.32 cm.        -   Length of stems.—About 12.7 cm on a 2-month-old plant.        -   Internode length.—2.54 cm.        -   Texture of stems.—Rounded, smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Color of stems.—Yellow-green, 138A to 138B.        -   Number of leaves per stem.—5 on a vine measuring 12.7 cm.        -   Propagation type.—Meristem tip cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—2 weeks at an average of            75 degrees Fahrenheit.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Lamina.—Shape: Cordate. Length: Mature leaf: 6.35 cm to            8.89 cm. Immature leaf (newly expanded): 5.0 cm to 6.35 cm.            Width: Mature leaf: 6.35 cm to 7.00 cm. Immature leaf (newly            expanded): Approximately 4.45 cm. Aspect: Young leaves            slightly concave, older leaves mainly flat. Apex shape:            Acute. Base shape: Slightly lobate, open area between lobes            is shallow, about 0.32 cm to 0.48 cm in depth. Texture (both            upper and lower surfaces): Slightly rugose, velvety.            Orientation: Held horizontal to slightly downward. Margins:            Entire. Color: Juvenile foliage (both upper surface and            lower surfaces): Pale green, 189B. Mature foliage (both            upper and lower surfaces): Pale green, 189B, with a slight            background fading to moderate yellow-green, 143D, as leaves            mature. Upper and lower surface leaf sheen: Lustrous with a            silvery iridescence. Venation: Pattern: Arcuate. Color,            upper surface: Dark yellow-green, 189A. Color, lower            surface: Moderate olive green, 137A.        -   Petiole.—Length: 3.18 cm. Width: 0.32 cm. Color:            Yellow-green, 143C to 143D. Sheath: Length: Approximately            0.95 cm to 1.27 cm from point of attachment on the stem to            the tip of the sheath. Color: Greenish white, close to 155C,            and translucent along edges.        -   Aerial roots.—One aerial root nodule present at each node,            approximately 0.16 cm in length and colored brown-orange,            N167A.-   Inflorescence: None observed.-   Cold tolerance: None observed.-   Disease and pest tolerance: None observed.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Drought tolerance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL VARIETIES

‘Silver Baby’ differs from the parent Scindapsus plant in that ‘SilverBaby’ has leaves that are nearly all silver, whereas the parentScindapsus plant has leaves that are green with small spots of silver.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

When ‘Silver Baby’ is compared to the commercial Scindapsus plant‘Silver Hero’ (unpatented), ‘Silver Hero’ has larger leaves that aremore matte and less iridescent than the leaves of ‘Silver Baby’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Scindapsus plant named ‘SilverBaby’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.